Trip ideas while visiting Austin in Texas
Austin, Texas is known for housing the largest urban bat colony in North America, as per experts. Around 1.5 million bats find their home at the Ann Richards Congress Avenue Bridge for a part of the year. These bats settled here after the bridge underwent renovations in 1980, which created small openings that were perfect for them to seek shelter from predators. During springtime, Mexican free-tailed bats migrate northward to the bridge to give birth and raise their young ones. As summer arrives, these bats can be spotted every evening at dusk as they venture out to eliminate bothersome insects in the city before returning to central Mexico in the fall. If you’re interested in observing the bats, you can opt for evening kayak trips on Lady Bird Lake. Another option is to visit the Statesmen Bat Observation Center, located next to the bridge on the south side of Lady Bird Lake, which offers a free viewing experience.
Witnessing the bats in action is a captivating experience, according to both previous tourists and residents. It’s worth noting that the bats’ behavior is entirely natural and hence can be quite unpredictable. As a result, it’s possible that you may have to wait for a considerable amount of time. To ensure a better chance of observing them, it is advisable to arrive early and secure a prime location for viewing.